Embracing the Humble and Handmade at Home
There's a reason we've fallen head over heels for perfectly imperfect home interiors – it just feels good
Joanna Tovia
1 July 2017
Houzz editorial team. Photojournalist specialising in design, travel and living well. Follow her photodocumentary about pets and the people who love them on Instagram @unfoldingtails
Houzz editorial team. Photojournalist specialising in design, travel and living well.... More
The universe is perfectly in balance, so we’re told, and one extreme is always countered by another. In today’s world, many of us are grappling with overpriced real estate (and resulting financial strain), frantically busy work lives, and an always-on culture so alluring it’s hard to switch off. We may not be able to control the ways of the world, or the rife overconsumption, but there are other ways to bring about the quietude we need, and we often do so subconsciously.
The love affair we’re having with the handmade, perfectly imperfect and wabi-sabi way of life is a prime example. We can’t get enough of artisan wares, raw and natural materials, sumptuous texture and worn patinas. We’re opting for home comforts and unpretentious individual style over surface gloss and staged glamour, creating havens we love to come home to. We’re giving ourselves permission to unfollow fads, to display treasures we love – no matter how uncool someone else might find them – and to go our own way.
Let these spaces inspire your own sense of freedom at home, and may you find the respite you need there to live a more peaceful life.
The love affair we’re having with the handmade, perfectly imperfect and wabi-sabi way of life is a prime example. We can’t get enough of artisan wares, raw and natural materials, sumptuous texture and worn patinas. We’re opting for home comforts and unpretentious individual style over surface gloss and staged glamour, creating havens we love to come home to. We’re giving ourselves permission to unfollow fads, to display treasures we love – no matter how uncool someone else might find them – and to go our own way.
Let these spaces inspire your own sense of freedom at home, and may you find the respite you need there to live a more peaceful life.
Hand-crafted wares
Macrame and woven wall hangings are making their way into homes of all persuasions, bringing with them texture, natural fibres and a handmade aesthetic that somehow makes a house feel more like a home. And natural linen bedding (no ironing allowed) brings any bedroom an extra dose of rumpled satisfaction.
Macrame and woven wall hangings are making their way into homes of all persuasions, bringing with them texture, natural fibres and a handmade aesthetic that somehow makes a house feel more like a home. And natural linen bedding (no ironing allowed) brings any bedroom an extra dose of rumpled satisfaction.
Handmade treasures you’ve unearthed at a Finders Keepers market or on Etsy have an appeal all their own – and we’re recognising that these finds often bring far more soul to a home than mass-produced wares churned out in a factory. Thankfully, it’s never been easier for artists and makers to show off and sell their wares – online and off. Get started on Felt, Such & Such and Koskela.
Serving food made with love on handmade ceramic plates and bowls can transform an occasion from uptight to relaxed – and dishes served on the handmade just seem to look and taste heartier. Restaurants and mega-brands such as Ikea and Freedom are responding to our affection for the handmade with versions of their own – a sure sign that a trend has taken a firm hold and isn’t going anywhere soon.
The pleasure of making your own accessories for the home knows no bounds, no matter where your skills lie. Bunting made from old fabric (or the clothes your children have grown out of) adds a special and nostalgic touch to any bedroom, while hand-crafted toys and artworks are all the more meaningful (dropped stitches and all) now and for generations to come.
Living well
Homes aren’t all about appearance anymore. We’re being led more by what brings us joy, what nourishes us, and what we want more of in our lives. A reading nook by a disused fireplace is a fine place to encourage a love of reading. Storing books in this way is unexpected but totally delightful – and that’s a good reason to do it.
Browse more photos of kids’ rooms
Homes aren’t all about appearance anymore. We’re being led more by what brings us joy, what nourishes us, and what we want more of in our lives. A reading nook by a disused fireplace is a fine place to encourage a love of reading. Storing books in this way is unexpected but totally delightful – and that’s a good reason to do it.
Browse more photos of kids’ rooms
A spot in the sun doesn’t always require expensive furniture to serve an intended purpose. In fact, curling up on the floor for a nap or a chat with a child, friend or partner has an appeal all its own – casual and comfortable is often the way to go.
Mindful living made easy
Mindful living made easy
Any well-used kitchen will show wear and tear in time, but seeing those cracks, chips and stains as marks of a life well lived can make you love, not loathe, your cooking zone. Why not use the money you’ve saved not renovating to enhance your life in other ways? Such as regularly splurging on the fine food of local producers?
Small-scale Australian and New Zealand farms are earning accolades for their top-quality fare – think Holy Goat Cheese, Hillbilly Cider, Duck Creek Macadamias, Cloudy Bay Clams or, if you fancy the idea of slathering some dark chocolate peanut butter on your toast, Fix & Fogg.
Small-scale Australian and New Zealand farms are earning accolades for their top-quality fare – think Holy Goat Cheese, Hillbilly Cider, Duck Creek Macadamias, Cloudy Bay Clams or, if you fancy the idea of slathering some dark chocolate peanut butter on your toast, Fix & Fogg.
Ways with wood
Timber is being used inside and out to warm up a cool or too-contemporary home and provide that connection with nature we crave. Timber softens the stark exterior of this house, for example.
Timber is being used inside and out to warm up a cool or too-contemporary home and provide that connection with nature we crave. Timber softens the stark exterior of this house, for example.
A worn timber table, floorboards that have seen better days, or a rustic beam stretching across a room adds character and warmth, and is a perfect example of wabi-sabi style. The Japanese term is all about simplicity (wabi), and the beauty of age and wear (sabi).
Black and white is a classic combination that will never go out of style, but timber is an increasingly common addition to every room of the house for the warming touch it brings. The sheer variety of grains and tones in timber – pale and fine-grained or rustic and handsome – means interiors of all styles can find their perfect match. Scandinavian-style palettes pair well with light-toned timbers, for example, while a rambling farmhouse can cope with deeper-toned rugged timber with a more pronounced grain.
Raw and rustic finishes
Exposed or painted brick with flaws out on display, raw concrete honed but not hidden away, weathered timber exteriors that turn grey with the passing of time – these were once the embarrassing marks of a home whose owners were down on their luck. Now, we love all of it and these imperfect details are no longer considered flaws. The sleeker the home, the more it can cry out for a little contrast, whether in the form of old wooden stools in a shiny new kitchen, textural natural fibres in cushions, throws and rugs, or a touch of the handmade in artwork and other decorative accessories.
Exposed or painted brick with flaws out on display, raw concrete honed but not hidden away, weathered timber exteriors that turn grey with the passing of time – these were once the embarrassing marks of a home whose owners were down on their luck. Now, we love all of it and these imperfect details are no longer considered flaws. The sleeker the home, the more it can cry out for a little contrast, whether in the form of old wooden stools in a shiny new kitchen, textural natural fibres in cushions, throws and rugs, or a touch of the handmade in artwork and other decorative accessories.
Forget about painted weatherboard homes. As timber left to the mercy of Mother Nature weathers over time, it just grows more beautiful. A bit like all of us, right?
Compare this lovely old gate to an off-the-shelf number from a monopolising hardware store. Longevity aside, it’s the craftsmanship and attention to detail of many one-of-a-kind creations that we love. In this case, it’s the rough edges, worn timber and rusty hinges that give it so much appeal. The gate was made from an old dray found on the property when the owners first moved there 40 years ago, and the handle is fashioned from a horseshoe!
Old and recycled
You don’t have to love eclectic style to embrace the use of old wares, repurposed goods or mismatched dinnerware – but not being a slave to interior fashions frees you up to introduce elements you love over what looks good. A heartfelt home is often the result.
You don’t have to love eclectic style to embrace the use of old wares, repurposed goods or mismatched dinnerware – but not being a slave to interior fashions frees you up to introduce elements you love over what looks good. A heartfelt home is often the result.
The bed frames in this inviting kids’ room were found at an antique shop in Johannesburg, South Africa. Like many old and worn furniture items, the beds pair wonderfully with colour – in this case, the bedding and other touches around the room. Imperfectly rendered walls and hand-painted stairs in a rainbow of colours just complement the look.
Nail the ‘perfect imperfect’ look
Nail the ‘perfect imperfect’ look
Treasures you find on your travels or at your favourite antique store can bring unexpected joy into your home that lingers long after the purchase high wears off. The secret is not to overthink it. If you see it and love it – and it won’t make too big a dent in your budget – get it. Think about exactly where you’ll put it later.
Your say
If you liked this story, add a comment, bookmark it, or save a photo. And let us know how you’ve made your house into a more of a home. Join the conversation!
More
Browse more photos of homes around the world
If you liked this story, add a comment, bookmark it, or save a photo. And let us know how you’ve made your house into a more of a home. Join the conversation!
More
Browse more photos of homes around the world
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On Saturday I went to a 40th birthday party for someone I don't know very well and one highlight was the 'giving of presents' which her friends did at the end: her mum had somehow got each of her many old college friends over to crochet a square with her and she (the mum) sewed them all together into a big blanket. It was lumpy and colourful no doubt but also the only present that made us all mist up a little. The birthday girl (generally quite modern and designer hunting) LOVED it.
This is great! We need more loved things in out homes and less bought brand new. Thank you for writing about this.
Can I add ... please expect to pay more for handmade! Don't insult the makers! I've seen people baulking at $500 for a patchwork quilt that took months to make. If 'man-hours' were charged by the hours they'd be thousands! . If you want cheap, go for mass produced. Treasures give joy for generations.